Editing Osage County, Kansas

{{short description|County in Kansas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
|county             = Osage County
|state              = Kansas
|nickname           = Land of Lakes <ref>{{Cite web | url=http://osageco.org/main/ | title=Osage County, Kansas - Home }}</ref>
|type               = [[County (United States)|County]]
|ex image           = Osage County Courthouse Kansas.jpg
|ex image cap       = Osage County Courthouse in [[Lyndon, Kansas|Lyndon]] (2009)
|founded            = 1859
|named for          = [[Osage Nation]]
|seat wl            = Lyndon
|largest city wl    = Osage City
|area_total_sq_mi   = 720
|area_land_sq_mi    = 706
|area_water_sq_mi   = 14
|area percentage    = 2.0%

|population_footnotes = <ref name="QF" />
|population_as_of   = 2020
|population_total   = 15766
|pop_est_footnotes  =<ref>{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 24, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
|pop_est_as_of      =2023
|population_est     =15824 {{increase}}
|population_density_sq_mi = 22.3

|district           = 2nd
|time zone          = Central
|website            = {{URL|http://osageco.org/|OsageCo.org}}
}}

'''Osage County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Kansas]].  Its [[county seat]] is [[Lyndon, Kansas|Lyndon]],<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> and its most populous city is [[Osage City, Kansas|Osage City]].  As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the county population was 15,766.<ref name="QF">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts; Osage County, Kansas; Population, Census, 2020 & 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/osagecountykansas/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819023918/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/osagecountykansas/POP010220 |archive-date=August 19, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>  The county was originally organized in 1855 as Weller County, then renamed in 1859 after the [[Osage Nation|Osage tribe]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.osage.kansasgov.com/MV2Base.asp?VarCN=18 |title=Osage County Website |access-date=May 16, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927145540/http://www.osage.kansasgov.com/MV2Base.asp?VarCN=18 |archive-date=September 27, 2007 }}</ref>

==History==

===Early history===
{{See also|History of Kansas}}
For many millennia, the [[Great Plains]] of [[North America]] was inhabited by nomadic [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]]. From the 16th century to 18th century, the [[Kingdom of France]] claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the [[French and Indian War]], France secretly ceded [[New France]] to [[Spain]], per the [[Treaty of Fontainebleau (1762)|Treaty of Fontainebleau]].

===19th century===
In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France but keeping title to about 7,500 square miles. In 1803, most of the land for [[History of Kansas|modern day Kansas]] was acquired by the United States from France as part of the {{convert|828000|sqmi}} [[Louisiana Purchase]] for 2.83 [[Penny (United States coin)|cents]] per [[acre]].

In 1854, the [[Kansas Territory]] was organized, then in 1861 [[Kansas]] became the 34th [[U.S. state]]. In 1859, '''Osage County''' was established.

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|720|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|706|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|14|sqmi}} (2.0%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Shawnee County, Kansas|Shawnee County]] (north)
* [[Douglas County, Kansas|Douglas County]] (northeast)
* [[Franklin County, Kansas|Franklin County]] (east)
* [[Coffey County, Kansas|Coffey County]] (south)
* [[Lyon County, Kansas|Lyon County]] (southwest)
* [[Wabaunsee County, Kansas|Wabaunsee County]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 1113
|1870= 7648
|1880= 19642
|1890= 25062
|1900= 23659
|1910= 19905
|1920= 18621
|1930= 17538
|1940= 15118
|1950= 12811
|1960= 12886
|1970= 13352
|1980= 15319
|1990= 15248
|2000= 16712
|2010= 16295
|2020= 15766
|estyear=2023
|estimate=15824
|estref=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 3, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 27, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=July 27, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ks190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 27, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 27, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF" />
}}
Osage County is included in the [[Topeka metropolitan area]].

As of the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> there were 16,712 people, 6,490 households, and 4,737 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|24|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 7,018 housing units at an average density of {{convert|10|/mi2|/km2|}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the county was 97.27% [[White American|White]], 0.22% [[Black American|Black]] or [[African American]], 0.65% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.17% [[Asian American|Asian]], 0.10% [[Pacific Islander American|Pacific Islander]], 0.41% from other races, and 1.18% from [[Multiracial|two or more races]].  [[Hispanic]] or [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino]] of any race were 1.53% of the population.

There were 6,490 [[household]]s, out of which 33.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.00% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.00% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.30 males.

The [[Median household income|median income for a household]] in the county was $37,928, and the median income for a family was $44,581. Males had a median income of $30,670 versus $22,981 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,691. About 6.40% of families and 8.40% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 8.40% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==

===Presidential elections===
Osage County is strongly Republican. In only six presidential elections from 1880 to the present day has the county failed to back the Republican Party candidate, most recently in [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]'s national landslide of 1964.
{{Hidden
|headercss  = background: #ccccff; font-size: 100%; width: 100%;
|contentcss = text-align: left; font-size: 100%; width: 100%;
|header     = Presidential election results
|content    =
{{PresHead|place=Osage County, Kansas|source=<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS | title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections }}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|5,736|1,946|236|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|5,705|2,136|194|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|4,826|1,753|574|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|4,427|2,268|211|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|4,820|2,534|190|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|4,800|2,537|126|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|3,770|2,530|313|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|3,487|2,502|1,157|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|2,561|2,297|2,563|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|3,496|2,840|99|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,288|2,072|83|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,817|2,088|419|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|2,945|2,755|128|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,073|1,522|133|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|3,157|1,664|801|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,681|2,737|42|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|3,880|2,150|31|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|4,136|1,979|32|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,589|2,036|41|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|3,474|2,659|121|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|4,107|2,212|58|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|4,991|3,186|70|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|4,232|4,224|30|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,707|4,199|259|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|5,900|2,058|98|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|4,957|2,050|836|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,507|2,414|256|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|3,770|4,276|390|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|850|1,969|2,005|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|2,671|2,288|351|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|3,670|1,516|459|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|3,128|2,901|85|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|2,903|3,481|71|Kansas}}
{{PresRow|1892|Populist|2,604|0|3,345|Kansas}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Republican|3,442|1,380|1,165|Kansas}}
}}<!-- End of Hidden template -->

===Laws===
Osage County was a prohibition, or [[dry county|"dry"]], county until the [[Kansas Constitution]] was amended in 1986 and voters approved the sale of alcoholic liquor by the individual drink with a 30% food sales requirement.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.ksrevenue.org/abcwetdrymap.htm| title=Map of Wet and Dry Counties| publisher=Alcoholic Beverage Control, Kansas Department of Revenue| date=November 2006| access-date=December 28, 2007| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008013617/http://www.ksrevenue.org/abcwetdrymap.htm| archive-date=October 8, 2007}}</ref>

The county voted "No" on the [[2022 Kansas abortion referendum]], an anti-abortion ballot measure, by 56% to 44% despite backing [[Donald Trump]] with 71% of the vote to [[Joe Biden]]'s 27% in the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/14-out-19-counties-that-rejected-kansas-anti-abortion-measure-backed-trump-2022-8|title=14 of the 19 Kansas counties that rejected an anti-abortion amendment voted for Trump in 2020|publisher=Business Insider|last=Panetta|first=Grace|date=August 3, 2022|accessdate=August 3, 2022}}</ref>

==Education==

===Unified school districts===
School districts include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st20_ks/schooldistrict_maps/c20139_osage/DC20SD_C20139.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Osage County, KS|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-11-10}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st20_ks/schooldistrict_maps/c20139_osage/DC20SD_C20139_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Osage City USD 420]] [https://www.usd420.org/]
* [[Lyndon USD 421]] [https://www.usd421.org/ ]
* [[Santa Fe Trail USD 434]] [https://www.usd434.org/ ]
* [[Burlingame USD 454]] 
* [[Marais des Cygnes Valley USD 456]]
* [[Auburn-Washburn USD 437]]
* [[North Lyon County USD 251]]
* [[Wabaunsee East USD 330]]
* [[West Franklin USD 287]]
* [[Shawnee Heights USD 450]]
* [[Lebo-Waverly USD 243]]

==Media==
Osage County is served by a weekly newspaper, ''The Osage County Herald-Chronicle''. The newspaper has a circulation of approximately 4,500, making it the 3rd largest paid weekly publication in the state of Kansas.

''The Herald-Chronicle'' was created by the merger of ''The Osage County Herald'' and ''The Osage County Chronicle'' in February 2007.

==Communities==
[[Image:Map of Osage Co, Ks, USA.png|thumb|300px|2005 map of Osage County<ref name="County-Map-Current"/> ([[:File:Kansas official transportation map legend.png|map legend]])]]
List of townships / incorporated cities / unincorporated communities / extinct former communities within Osage County.<ref name="County-Map-Current">{{cite web |title=General Highway Map of Osage County, Kansas |url=https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/osage.PDF |publisher=[[Kansas Department of Transportation]] (KDOT) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521000739/https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/osage.PDF |archive-date=May 21, 2024 |date=August 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cities===
{{div col}}
* [[Burlingame, Kansas|Burlingame]]
* [[Carbondale, Kansas|Carbondale]]
* [[Lyndon, Kansas|Lyndon]] (county seat)
* [[Melvern, Kansas|Melvern]]
* [[Olivet, Kansas|Olivet]]
* [[Osage City, Kansas|Osage City]]
* [[Overbrook, Kansas|Overbrook]]
* [[Quenemo, Kansas|Quenemo]]
* [[Scranton, Kansas|Scranton]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
† means a community is designated a [[Census-designated place|Census-Designated Place]] (CDP) by the [[United States Census Bureau]].
{{div col}}
* [[Barclay, Kansas|Barclay]]
* [[Michigan Valley, Kansas|Michigan Valley]]
* [[Peterton, Kansas|Peterton]]
* [[Vassar, Kansas|Vassar]]†
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
Osage County is divided into sixteen [[Civil township|townships]]. The city of [[Osage City, Kansas|Osage City]] is considered ''governmentally independent'' and is excluded from the census figures for the townships. In the following table, the population center is the largest city (or cities) included in that township's population total, if it is of a significant size.

{| class="toccolours" border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 style="text-align:center; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%;"
|- style="background:#ccccff"
! Township !! [[FIPS place code|FIPS]] !! Population<br />center
! Population !! Population<br />density<br /><small>/km<sup>2</sup> (/sq&nbsp;mi)</small>
! Land area<br /><small>km<sup>2</sup> (sq&nbsp;mi)</small> !! Water area<br /><small>km<sup>2</sup> (sq&nbsp;mi)</small> !! Water %
! Geographic coordinates
|-
| [[Agency Township, Osage County, Kansas|Agency]] || 00450 || [[Quenemo, Kansas|Quenemo]] || 618 || 7 (19) || 86 (33) || 0 (0) || 0.10% || {{coord|38|34|21|N|95|32|12|W|}}
|-
| Arvonia || 02550 || || 136 || 1 (3) || 112 (43) || 13 (5) || 10.13% || {{coord|38|28|52|N|95|52|14|W|}}
|-
| Barclay || 04175 || || 239 || 2 (5) || 124 (48) || 0 (0) || 0.14% || {{coord|38|33|42|N|95|52|0|W|}}
|-
| Burlingame || 09375 || [[Burlingame, Kansas|Burlingame]] || 1,768 || 9 (25) || 186 (72) || 1 (0) || 0.43% || {{coord|38|47|5|N|95|52|5|W|}}
|-
| Dragoon || 18575 || || 214 || 2 (6) || 94 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.07% || {{coord|38|43|14|N|95|49|16|W|}}
|-
| Elk || 20175 || [[Overbrook, Kansas|Overbrook]] || 1,723 || 12 (32) || 140 (54) || 0 (0) || 0.30% || {{coord|38|47|21|N|95|33|58|W|}}
|-
| Fairfax || 22150 || || 513 || 5 (12) || 111 (43) || 5 (2) || 4.14% || {{coord|38|42|34|N|95|40|3|W|}}
|-
| Grant || 27850 || || 297 || 3 (8) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.25% || {{coord|38|38|25|N|95|52|24|W|}}
|-
| Junction || 35725 || || 1,210 || 9 (24) || 129 (50) || 0 (0) || 0.15% || {{coord|38|40|27|N|95|34|8|W|}}
|-
| Lincoln || 40925 || || 134 || 2 (4) || 83 (32) || 0 (0) || 0.10% || {{coord|38|29|7|N|95|33|17|W|}}
|-
| Melvern || 45725 || [[Melvern, Kansas|Melvern]] || 812 || 7 (18) || 115 (44) || 0 (0) || 0.13% || {{coord|38|30|8|N|95|38|50|W|}}
|-
| Olivet || 52725 || [[Olivet, Kansas|Olivet]] || 263 || 2 (5) || 143 (55) || 17 (7) || 10.70% || {{coord|38|29|53|N|95|44|51|W|}}
|-
| Ridgeway || 59825 || [[Carbondale, Kansas|Carbondale]] || 2,661 || 25 (64) || 108 (42) || 2 (1) || 2.00% || {{coord|38|48|56|N|95|40|56|W|}}
|-
| Scranton || 63700 || [[Scranton, Kansas|Scranton]] || 1,273 || 14 (36) || 92 (36) || 1 (0) || 0.91% || {{coord|38|47|30|N|95|45|10|W|}}
|-
| Superior || 69500 || || 293 || 3 (8) || 93 (36) || 0 (0) || 0.30% || {{coord|38|38|44|N|95|47|34|W|}}
|-
| Valley Brook || 73200 || [[Lyndon, Kansas|Lyndon]]  || 1,524 || 15 (38) || 104 (40) || 0 (0) || 0.46% || {{coord|38|36|44|N|95|40|35|W|}}
|-
|colspan=9|Sources: {{Cite web| url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/places2k.html| title=Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, Geography Division| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020802223743/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/places2k.html| archive-date=August 2, 2002}}
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Kansas}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Osage County, Kansas]]
*[[Osage State Fishing Lake]]
{{See also Kansas counties}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Kansas books}}
* [http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/224020/ ''Standard Atlas of Osage County, Kansas'']; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 80 pages; 1918.
* [http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/224031/ ''Descriptive Atlas of Osage County, Kansas'']; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 67 pages; 1899.
* [http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/224042/ ''An Illustrated Historical Atlas of Osage County, Kansas'']; Geo. A. Ogle & Co; 46 pages; 1879.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Osage County, Kansas}}
;County
* {{Official website|http://osageco.org/|Osage County - Official Website}}
* [https://www.lkm.org/members/?id=41260470 Osage County - Directory of Public Officials]
;Other
* [http://www.osagechs.org/ Osage County Historical Society]
;Maps
* Osage County Maps: [http://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/burTransPlan/maps/county-pdf/osage.PDF Current], [http://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burtransplan/maps/PastPublishedCounty.asp Historic], KDOT
* Kansas Highway Maps: [http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/MapsState.asp Current], [http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/HistoricStateMaps.asp Historic], KDOT
* Kansas Railroad Maps: [http://www.ksdot.org/BurTransPlan/maps/RRStateMap.asp Current], [http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/227379 1996], [http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/227380 1915], KDOT and Kansas Historical Society

{{Geographic location
|Center    = Osage County, Kansas
|North     = [[Shawnee County, Kansas|Shawnee County]]
|Northeast = [[Douglas County, Kansas|Douglas County]]
|East      = 
|Southeast = [[Franklin County, Kansas|Franklin County]]
|South     = [[Coffey County, Kansas|Coffey County]]
|Southwest = [[Lyon County, Kansas|Lyon County]]
|West      = 
|Northwest = [[Wabaunsee County, Kansas|Wabaunsee County]]
}}

{{Osage County, Kansas}}
{{Kansas}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|38|39|N|95|44|W|type:adm2nd_region:US-KS|display=title}}

[[Category:Osage County, Kansas| ]]
[[Category:Kansas counties]]
[[Category:Kansas placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:1859 establishments in Kansas Territory]]
[[Category:Topeka metropolitan area, Kansas]]